I talked with Rick Mello about this. He said all of the current class of recruits will be honored. Coach Bragga wants a different distribution of scholarships for the future. We can't have a class with all pitchers so more schollies will go to position players. Everyone from 2019 class on have plenty of time to find another home.

(09-14-2018 10:22 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 07:16 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 05:01 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I guess the other side would be why would any incoming coach want his hands tied. He surely has players he was recruiting prior to Rice and now would liketo see them at Rice.

Highly unlikely that Bragga has or will be able to bring recruits from Tennessee Tech to Rice. The plan seems to be find Juco players to fill the void of the 2019 commits he nixed at the last minute. 99% of highly recruited players were/are committed to other schools. Basically he took a relatively small recruiting class and gutted it. Now he will have to find Juco guys. It could work out but it’s a really bad thing to do to a kid who’s been loyal to his commitment.

It’s not exactly the honorable thing to do at a school that prides itself on being honorable.

Did Bragga keep any of the existing 2019 commits? Or axe them all?

And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

(09-14-2018 10:56 PM)bobreinhold1 Wrote:  I talked with Rick Mello about this. He said all of the current class of recruits will be honored. Coach Bragga wants a different distribution of scholarships for the future. We can't have a class with all pitchers so more schollies will go to position players. Everyone from 2019 class on have plenty of time to find another home.

Not true. Not true at all. And again, 2019 kids sign in November and they’ve already played their final summer season.

(09-14-2018 10:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:22 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 07:16 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 05:01 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I guess the other side would be why would any incoming coach want his hands tied. He surely has players he was recruiting prior to Rice and now would liketo see them at Rice.

Highly unlikely that Bragga has or will be able to bring recruits from Tennessee Tech to Rice. The plan seems to be find Juco players to fill the void of the 2019 commits he nixed at the last minute. 99% of highly recruited players were/are committed to other schools. Basically he took a relatively small recruiting class and gutted it. Now he will have to find Juco guys. It could work out but it’s a really bad thing to do to a kid who’s been loyal to his commitment.

It’s not exactly the honorable thing to do at a school that prides itself on being honorable.

Did Bragga keep any of the existing 2019 commits? Or axe them all?

And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:22 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 07:16 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 05:01 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I guess the other side would be why would any incoming coach want his hands tied. He surely has players he was recruiting prior to Rice and now would liketo see them at Rice.

Highly unlikely that Bragga has or will be able to bring recruits from Tennessee Tech to Rice. The plan seems to be find Juco players to fill the void of the 2019 commits he nixed at the last minute. 99% of highly recruited players were/are committed to other schools. Basically he took a relatively small recruiting class and gutted it. Now he will have to find Juco guys. It could work out but it’s a really bad thing to do to a kid who’s been loyal to his commitment.

It’s not exactly the honorable thing to do at a school that prides itself on being honorable.

Did Bragga keep any of the existing 2019 commits? Or axe them all?

And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

(09-15-2018 12:03 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:22 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 07:16 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Highly unlikely that Bragga has or will be able to bring recruits from Tennessee Tech to Rice. The plan seems to be find Juco players to fill the void of the 2019 commits he nixed at the last minute. 99% of highly recruited players were/are committed to other schools. Basically he took a relatively small recruiting class and gutted it. Now he will have to find Juco guys. It could work out but it’s a really bad thing to do to a kid who’s been loyal to his commitment.

It’s not exactly the honorable thing to do at a school that prides itself on being honorable.

Did Bragga keep any of the existing 2019 commits? Or axe them all?

And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

Well of course they could have gone to school there but why would they? They were not going to be on the team in any fashion. They were Rice baseball commits who obviously want to play D1 baseball and specifically they wanted to play at Rice. When Bragga pulled the offer, their only choice was to look elsewhere. Problem is, again, 99% of schools in the country were full for 2019. THEY DID NOT HAVE “PLENTY” OF TIME to find another home. It really screwed those kids.

(09-15-2018 12:32 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:03 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:22 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Did Bragga keep any of the existing 2019 commits? Or axe them all?

And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

Well of course they could have gone to school there but why would they? They were not going to be on the team in any fashion. They were Rice baseball commits who obviously want to play D1 baseball and specifically they wanted to play at Rice. When Bragga pulled the offer, their only choice was to look elsewhere. Problem is, again, 99% of schools in the country were full for 2019. THEY DID NOT HAVE “PLENTY” OF TIME to find another home. It really screwed those kids.

I agree he should have at least allowed them to walk on. I’m also not sure why he wouldn’t have let them if they wanted to. Also, did he honor any of them? Or clear the whole lot?

(09-15-2018 12:47 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:32 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:03 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

Well of course they could have gone to school there but why would they? They were not going to be on the team in any fashion. They were Rice baseball commits who obviously want to play D1 baseball and specifically they wanted to play at Rice. When Bragga pulled the offer, their only choice was to look elsewhere. Problem is, again, 99% of schools in the country were full for 2019. THEY DID NOT HAVE “PLENTY” OF TIME to find another home. It really screwed those kids.

I agree he should have at least allowed them to walk on. I’m also not sure why he wouldn’t have let them if they wanted to. Also, did he honor any of them? Or clear the whole lot?

He honored some. But he pulled others. What makes this really bad is that none of them were communicated with to let them know they may need to be looking for a backup plan. All of the parents I’ve talked to said the same thing, “if he’d let us know there was a chance he would make changes, we could have talked to other schools.” But instead, after their summer is over and they’re getting ready to go back to school, he calls to pull their offer.

When that’s the ONE AND ONLY time Bragga ever bothered to speak to those recruits, it’s shady and not a good look. I’m done with this issue. I have close relationships with some of those kids because I’ve worked with them for quite some time. Bothers me that my school would start sinking to that level of what’s right and what’s wrong. And the word is out so I do believe it will significantly impact his chance at getting certain kids in the future.

(09-15-2018 12:47 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:32 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:03 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 10:57 PM)BufflOwl Wrote:  And did he revoke admission to the school or say they can’t come to the field? Or did he say “I’m going to get a couple JuCo players with the scholarship $ you were promised 3 years ago under another whole set of coaches so that we can win more now but you can still earn credits toward a Rice degree and compete for a spot and this $ plus some in the future?”

I’m not sure why high school and travel coaches (or players and parents) would be mortified that they now say “well looks like Rice is going to do all the same stunts that the teams that are winning have been doing for some time now.” as opposed to saying “well they’ll honor your scholarship but who knows how long the coach will be there.”

Bragga has to win and the tactics and strategy will be justified. If he loses, it’ll be critiqued. Whatever the tactics and strategy is.

Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

Well of course they could have gone to school there but why would they? They were not going to be on the team in any fashion. They were Rice baseball commits who obviously want to play D1 baseball and specifically they wanted to play at Rice. When Bragga pulled the offer, their only choice was to look elsewhere. Problem is, again, 99% of schools in the country were full for 2019. THEY DID NOT HAVE “PLENTY” OF TIME to find another home. It really screwed those kids.

I agree he should have at least allowed them to walk on. I’m also not sure why he wouldn’t have let them if they wanted to. Also, did he honor any of them? Or clear the whole lot?

Even if he’d allowed them to walk on, why would a kid do that when he’d been promised a scholarship? “Hey kid, we don’t want you anymore but if you wanna come try out, I guess you can do that.”

Come on man...

Those kids are D1 players who earned multiple offers and chose Rice. Their not gonna accept that even if it was presented to them.

(09-15-2018 07:45 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:47 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:32 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:03 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

Well of course they could have gone to school there but why would they? They were not going to be on the team in any fashion. They were Rice baseball commits who obviously want to play D1 baseball and specifically they wanted to play at Rice. When Bragga pulled the offer, their only choice was to look elsewhere. Problem is, again, 99% of schools in the country were full for 2019. THEY DID NOT HAVE “PLENTY” OF TIME to find another home. It really screwed those kids.

I agree he should have at least allowed them to walk on. I’m also not sure why he wouldn’t have let them if they wanted to. Also, did he honor any of them? Or clear the whole lot?

Even if he’d allowed them to walk on, why would a kid do that when he’d been promised a scholarship? “Hey kid, we don’t want you anymore but if you wanna come try out, I guess you can do that.”

Come on man...

Those kids are D1 players who earned multiple offers and chose Rice. Their not gonna accept that even if it was presented to them.

From what you describe, I am not happy w the optics either. However, his job is to win games , while respecting the rules. He did not make the offers to these kids, and frankly, we are not winning at the level which we had become accustomed w the recruits that we have been getting. Cant expect him to come in w his hands tied.

Also, while I don't doubt for a minute what Owl1988 is saying, unless he's had a conversation with Bragga about this, we're getting just one side of the story.

I raised the issue to Rick Mello when I spoke with him a several weeks back (when Owl1988 first made light of the issue), and it was the first he had heard of it. A week later he got back to me and gave me the same response that Bob Reinhold received. I tend to agree that that explanation doesn't appear to ring true, until someone raises the issue with Bragga directly we're not hearing the whole story.

(09-15-2018 03:45 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Also, while I don't doubt for a minute what Owl1988 is saying, unless he's had a conversation with Bragga about this, we're getting just one side of the story.

I raised the issue to Rick Mello when I spoke with him a several weeks back (when Owl1988 first made light of the issue), and it was the first he had heard of it. A week later he got back to me and gave me the same response that Bob Reinhold received. I tend to agree that that explanation doesn't appear to ring true, until someone raises the issue with Bragga directly we're not hearing the whole story.

I spoke to parents and kids “directly” who spoke to Bragga “directly.”

Again, it was the first and only time Bragga spoke to the kids or their parents. After 2 months of no communication with the new staff (after the hire was made) that bombshell was dropped on them. I don’t care if you think it’s just one side of the story or not....that’s exactly what happened.

The decent thing to do would have been to let those kids/parents know that the 2019 class would need to have a backup plan. Cutting their offers AFTER their last chance to be seen during their LAST summer before signing day is crap. I don’t care who it is...it’s not right. It’s a new era at Rice I guess in more ways than one.

While I don't like the way this looks, I do agree with the point about only hearing one side of the story. We may never hear the other side, at least I (as a no-name outsider alumnus) never will unless someone shares it on here.

My immediate reaction from a parent point of view is that I would have proactively communicated with the new coach instead of waiting 2 months for them to contact me. It goes back to the principle that "it will never be as important to anyone else as it should be to me." I would have been in communication with the AD during the coaching search, and then immediately sought out contact with the new coach as soon as he was announced.

All that being said, I don't know what the recruiting rules allow in regards to contact between AD/coach and player/parent.

(09-15-2018 04:04 PM)TFW Wrote:  While I don't like the way this looks, I do agree with the point about only hearing one side of the story. We may never hear the other side, at least I (as a no-name outsider alumnus) never will unless someone shares it on here.

My immediate reaction from a parent point of view is that I would have proactively communicated with the new coach instead of waiting 2 months for them to contact me. It goes back to the principle that "it will never be as important to anyone else as it should be to me." I would have been in communication with the AD during the coaching search, and then immediately sought out contact with the new coach as soon as he was announced.

All that being said, I don't know what the recruiting rules allow in regards to contact between AD/coach and player/parent.

A) AD’s don’t talk to parents about coaching searches at D1 programs.
B) Once the hire was made, the parents/kids DID try to communicate with the new staff but to no avail.

There really is no justification for the way this was handled and the total lack of regard for what it would do to a kid that’s had his future planned around attending Rice and wearing that OER on his cap. Is it illegal? Nope. Is it right? Nope.

So if you're a kid who has signed with a program a long time ago, knowing for a lengthy amount of time that coach Graham wasn't going to return, don't you think that kid would have looked around some, and not just assumed the new coach would take him?

(09-15-2018 04:13 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 04:04 PM)TFW Wrote:  While I don't like the way this looks, I do agree with the point about only hearing one side of the story. We may never hear the other side, at least I (as a no-name outsider alumnus) never will unless someone shares it on here.

My immediate reaction from a parent point of view is that I would have proactively communicated with the new coach instead of waiting 2 months for them to contact me. It goes back to the principle that "it will never be as important to anyone else as it should be to me." I would have been in communication with the AD during the coaching search, and then immediately sought out contact with the new coach as soon as he was announced.

All that being said, I don't know what the recruiting rules allow in regards to contact between AD/coach and player/parent.

A) AD’s don’t talk to parents about coaching searches at D1 programs.
B) Once the hire was made, the parents/kids DID try to communicate with the new staff but to no avail.

There really is no justification for the way this was handled and the total lack of regard for what it would do to a kid that’s had his future planned around attending Rice and wearing that OER on his cap. Is it illegal? Nope. Is it right? Nope.

Sorry, but this I find very hard to believe. I don't doubt the kids and parents are telling you this, but again, it's just one side of the story. Are you telling me that calls were placed to Bragga and Pope (who was still on staff the first 6 weeks of Bragga's tenure and was head of recruiting), and no one answered or called back? And if this was truly the case, then the kids/parents should have read the writing on the wall back in early Summer, no?

(09-15-2018 04:19 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 04:13 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 04:04 PM)TFW Wrote:  While I don't like the way this looks, I do agree with the point about only hearing one side of the story. We may never hear the other side, at least I (as a no-name outsider alumnus) never will unless someone shares it on here.

My immediate reaction from a parent point of view is that I would have proactively communicated with the new coach instead of waiting 2 months for them to contact me. It goes back to the principle that "it will never be as important to anyone else as it should be to me." I would have been in communication with the AD during the coaching search, and then immediately sought out contact with the new coach as soon as he was announced.

All that being said, I don't know what the recruiting rules allow in regards to contact between AD/coach and player/parent.

A) AD’s don’t talk to parents about coaching searches at D1 programs.
B) Once the hire was made, the parents/kids DID try to communicate with the new staff but to no avail.

There really is no justification for the way this was handled and the total lack of regard for what it would do to a kid that’s had his future planned around attending Rice and wearing that OER on his cap. Is it illegal? Nope. Is it right? Nope.

Sorry, but this I find very hard to believe. I don't doubt the kids and parents are telling you this, but again, it's just one side of the story. Are you telling me that calls were placed to Bragga and Pope (who was still on staff the first 6 weeks of Bragga's tenure and was head of recruiting), and no one answered or called back? And if this was truly the case, then the kids/parents should have read the writing on the wall back in early Summer, no?

Doubt it all you want, Walt. Pope communicated with all of the kids continuously and all of the kids were given the impression they were all solid. When Pope was fired, those same kids tried to communicate with Bragga and his new staff. One kid DID speak to Janish immediately after Pope was let go but no indication was given that Bragga would be making any changes to their offers.

Again, the first and only time Bragga spoke to the kids was when he called to chop their offer.

This reminds me of when Todd Graham, new coach, did not honor all of the commitments made to Rice under Hatfield. That was the first thing that put me off of him.

(09-15-2018 05:37 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  This reminds me of when Todd Graham, new coach, did not honor all of the commitments made to Rice under Hatfield. That was the first thing that put me off of him.

That’s exactly what I thought as well.

(09-15-2018 07:45 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:47 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:32 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(09-15-2018 12:03 AM)BufflOwl Wrote:  

(09-14-2018 11:27 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Bragga did not offer to honor their commitment. He pulled the offer period. It’s his right to do it. Just doesn’t make it right.

Pulled the scholarship offer. Got it. Presumably the kids were already admitted though, could they still go to the school? I don’t see how he could keep them from going to the school if they were already admitted.

If they so choose to go to the school, and pay for it as other students do, would he not let them come to the baseball field every day? Or we’re they also not welcome at the field even if they still chose to attend Rice?

Well of course they could have gone to school there but why would they? They were not going to be on the team in any fashion. They were Rice baseball commits who obviously want to play D1 baseball and specifically they wanted to play at Rice. When Bragga pulled the offer, their only choice was to look elsewhere. Problem is, again, 99% of schools in the country were full for 2019. THEY DID NOT HAVE “PLENTY” OF TIME to find another home. It really screwed those kids.

I agree he should have at least allowed them to walk on. I’m also not sure why he wouldn’t have let them if they wanted to. Also, did he honor any of them? Or clear the whole lot?

Even if he’d allowed them to walk on, why would a kid do that when he’d been promised a scholarship? “Hey kid, we don’t want you anymore but if you wanna come try out, I guess you can do that.”

Come on man...

Those kids are D1 players who earned multiple offers and chose Rice. Their not gonna accept that even if it was presented to them.

Plenty of walk-ons make huge impacts on programs. Rice baseball’s history is littered with them. I’d be careful encouraging kids to scoff at anything other than a scholarship. If all a kid wants is to “be a Rice Owl.” Then I would have encouraged them to show up and be an owl. At least for the fall semester anyhow. As you mentioned it’s not like they had several other options at that point. If all they want is a scholarship than they can find another scholarship so they can say they got one.

Just my take though. It’s clearly a new age of recruiting and a softer generation of people so perhaps you’re right about the negative ramifications of this move. I just don’t see how he’ll be anything other than criticized no matter what he does until he starts to win though. That’s the challenge of following a legend.